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Apollo Herbs
Formulated
& Single Liquid Herbal Extracts
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| Apollo Herbs Liquid Herbal Extracts
are made by soaking or macerating fresh or freshly-dried plants in
grain alcohol and/or water. The alcoholic menstruum releases the
active chemical components which are concentrated and preserved.
This liquid form is easily absorbed by the body, usually within
fifteen to thirty minutes of ingestion. Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is
used to make herbal extracts or tinctures because it is the best
solvent, carrier and preservative of most active phytochemicals. The
potency of an alcoholic extract will be retained for several years.
In comparison, dried herb powders usually lose their potency within
one year due to the increased surface area of the plant and
oxidation of the plant’s delicate chemical constituents as they are
exposed to oxygen in the air, as well as to light, moisture or heat.
In order to prevent such decomposition, it is best to store herbs in
an air-tight container and keep them in a cool, dry and dark place.
The proportions of grain alcohol and water used to make a liquid
extract vary from plant to plant, depending upon the chemical
constituents of the given plant and their solubilities. Some plant
chemicals are more soluble in water, others are more soluble in
alcohol, thus the ratio is adjusted specifically for each plant
being extracted. Some compounds, like cellulose and lignin, are
components of plant cell walls which lock up active constituents.
They are called inactive constituents and are not released from the
plant during the extraction process, but are left behind and
discarded. Since the inactive constituents are not present in the
liquid extracts, the active constituents are considerably more
absorbable, perhaps up to forty percent more than in dried herbs.
Many people prefer liquid extracts to dried herbs for these reasons.
Additionally, tincture bottles are small, compact, easy to carry and
require no preparation, unlike herbal teas which must be prepared
each time. Liquid herbal extracts taste medicinal, so they are
usually diluted in a small amount of juice, tea, or water in order
to mask the strong flavor. It is important to remember when using
herbs as part of a holistic health regimen that the extract is taken
several times each day for optimal effectiveness. Unlike
pharmaceuticals, herbs are not pure, refined, highly-concentrated
and isolated chemicals acting quickly in response to an acute
situation. Herbal extracts are made from whole plant parts which
contain many chemicals or groups of chemicals that often times work
together in a synergistic manner and in harmony with the body; the
whole being equal to more than the sum of its parts. It is more
difficult to study how these compounds act together than it is to
study the isolated chemicals. Much of what is known about medicinal
plant actions comes from studies involving the isolated components
of herbs rather than on the whole plant extracts. Some herbs, when
taken regularly tend to work as a tonic, gradually acting on the
body. This tonic effect is best for chronic situations. Other more
potent herbs act quickly, are taken for a short time until they’ve
served their purpose, at which point their use is discontinued. Keep
in mind that herbs work best when used as part of a health
maintenance routine, which most importantly includes a natural,
balanced and nutritious diet, frequent exercise, and proper stress
management (relaxation). Incorporating herbs into a holistic
lifestyle allows them to work preventatively. In fact, by living
healthy and by emphasizing health-conscious activities on a daily
basis, it is even possible to prevent getting sick at all. Remember:
eat well, be active, have fun and enjoy your life! |
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